Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family, April 23, 1868

In this letter from April 23, 1868, Samuel Reed writes to his wife and family describing his progress on the Union Pacific line.

I go to Saunders this morning. Bridge finished and all excavations through the first range of mountains done, track over bridge and through most of the rock cuts, great load off my mind. Work has been let nearly to Green River. I expect to go to Salt Lake in May to start work as fast as possible. Carmichaels goes to heavy work on Green River, starts Monday next with three hundred men.

I will write in detail about business and let you know how well the committee for building the road feel in regard to the way the road has been pushed.

Here is inserted a sentence from a letter from Mrs. Reed to him; "Strange that in all telegrams of Pacific Railroad that appear in Omaha, NE papers, having S. B. Reed's name as superintendent of Construction, said name is always omitted in transmitting the same from Omaha, NE office to Chicago, so that W. Seymore, General Superintendent, stands out prominent and the other name is entirely omitted. All from that office drops out somehow. You do not care. I may be allowed to notice the fact and laugh about it with you."

About this Document

  • Source: Letter from Samuel B. Reed to Wife and Family
  • Citation: Nebraska State Historical Society, Samuel Reed Papers (Union Pacific Railroad Collection), MS 3761, Unit 1, Subgroup 14, Series 1, Box 2, Letters to Wife and Family
  • Date: April 23, 1868